Trailer vehicle



Oct s. JOHNSON. JR.,- ET AL 2,055,525

TRAILER VEHICLE Filed March 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 24). I. 7 8 T p I8 "NW 2 so I i .74 Y O.

Uch 6, 1936. s. JOHNSON. JR.. ET AL 2,056,525

TRAILER VEHICLE Filed March 141, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 (Om. 6, 1936. s; JOHNSON. JR.. ET AL 2,056,525

TRAILER VEHICLE Filed March 14, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r 1 4 I I I v 7 10/,

. 55 invention may take; and 1 Patented Oct. 6, 1936 PATENT OFFICE TRAILER VEHICLE l,

Stephen Johnson,

Jr., and Roger H. Casler, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to Bendix-Westinghouse Automotive Air Brake Company, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Pittsburgh,

' Application March 14, 1933, Serial No. 660,714

15 Claims. (01. 2so-,-s3.1

The present invention relates to tractor .and' trailer vehicles and more particularly to means for raising and lowering the front or loading wheels of a trailer vehicle.

It is an object of the presentinvention to provide improved means for raising and lowering the loading wheels of a trailer vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel power-operated mechanism for raising and lowering the loading wheels of a trailer vehicle,

which mechanism is so constituted as to positively hold said wheels in either raised or lowered po sition.

Another object is to provide novel power-operated mechanism for raising and lowering theloading wheels of a trailer vehicle, and including automatically-operable latch means for holding said wheels in either raised or lowered position.

Another object is to provide means forpreventing the operation of the device for raising or lowering the trailer loading wheels until the latching mechanism has fully released the wheels.

Another object is to provide a novel single, fluid-pressure operated device for either raising 5. or lowering the trailer loading wheels.

A further object is to provide in a -devlce of the above character, means controlled by the position of the trailer loading wheels for controlling the operation of the latching mechanism.

A stillfurther object is to "provide in a trailer vehicle construction, means for raising or lowering the trailer loading wheels, so constituted as to be simple in design and construction but which will also provide a strong and reliable device.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the following description and drawings, wherein several modifications of the invention appear, it being understood that the invention is in no way limited by such description or drawings or other than by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, in which similar reference numerals refer to like parts,

Fig. l discloses one form which the invention may take;

Fig. 2 discloses a vention may take; I

Fig. 3 discloses another system according to the present invention; v v Fig. 4 disclosesstill another form which the invention may take; I

Fig. 5 discloses a further system according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 discloses a still further form s second form which the mwhich the Fig. 'I discloses a modified arrangement of they parts disclosed in Fig. 4.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, in which is illustrated one form of the present invention, the same embodies a body-frame member I of a 5 trailer vehicle, the same being provided with a. loading wheel 2, carried at the lower extremity ,of a supporting leg 3 which is pivotally mounted on the lower side of the trailer frame on a shaft 4, it being understood that a similar wheel and supporting leg assembly may be mounted on the other side of the trailer vehicle. Keyed to shaft 4 for rotation therewith or formed integrally with supporting leg 3, is a short arm 5 which extends at an angle to the said supporting leg and carries, 15 at its outer extremity, a pin 6. The arm 5, shaft 4 and leg 3, it will be observed, will all rotate as a unit relatively to the frame member i.

Mounted on the frame member ll is a closed cylinder member l, the axis of which extends ver- 2 tically. Mounted fbr reciprocation within such cylinder is a piston member t, having a piston rod 9 extending through the lower end of the cylinder and being provided, at its lower extremity with a member ill, the same having aislot therein adapted to receive the pin it: carried by arm 5. Pivotally attached at its lower extremity to the axle housing of wheel 2 is a supporting rod l2, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to a member it which is slidably carried by a flange id of the frame member i. Member M has depending from opposite ends of the lower side thereof, two downwardly-extending lug members it, iii, the same being adapted for cooperation with latch mechanism to be described hereinafter. w It will be apparent from the above that, as the piston ti is reciprocated, the wheels 2 will be alternately raised and lowered, and the slidable member it will move back and forth along the frame member i between 'certain definite limits w determined by the length of slot ii Means are provided for locking member i3 at the ends of its path ofmovement along frame member 9. Such means comprisea cylinder ill mounted by bracket l8 on frame member l'ad- 4i iacent the forward limit of the travel of member l3, and having slidably mounted therein a piston i8", the same being constantly urged to its uppermost position by a spring I!) which may be disposed within cylinder II. Piston rod 50 20 is connected to piston l8 and extends through the lowerend of the cylinder and is connected at itslower extremity to a lever mem-. ber 2| which is keyed to a shaft rotatably carrled on the lower side of frame member i. Also keyed to shaft 22 for rotation therewith is a latch member 23, the same comprising an arm having an upwardly-extending hook on the end thereof for cooperation with the lug member I carried by slidable member I3. When piston I8 is in its normal uppermost position, the space below such piston is connected through passage 26 and pipe 24 to the portion of cylinder I below piston 8. The space above piston I8 is constantly connected through a pipe 25 to suitable means through which fluid under pressure may be admitted to the space in cylinder I'I above piston I 8 It should be noted that when the piston I 8 is forced downwardly by fluid under pressure introduced through pipe 24, the passage 26 connecting pipe 24 and the interior of cylinder I! will be uncovered at about the mid-point of the downward travel of the piston,

thereby connecting pipe 25 and pipe 24 through cylinder I1 and passage 26. Passage 26 is connected to the space above piston I8 and to pipe 25 past a ball-check valve 21 which is so disposed as to allow fluid under pressure 'to flow from pipe 24 and chamber 26 to pipe 25 but prevents the fiow of fluid in the opposite direction.

A second latch and latch-operating mechalow the upper position of piston 29 is connected through passage 35 and pipe 36 to the upper end of cylinder I. The upper end of cylinder 28 is connected through pipe 31 to suitable means whereby fluid under pressure may be introduced into said cylinder above piston 29. A ball-check valve 28 permits the flow of fluid under pressure from passage 35 to the space above piston 29 but prevents flow in the opposite direction.

In the operation of the above described structure, when the loading wheels are in the position shown in Fig; 1, i. e. raised out of engagement with the ground, the latch 34 is held in its raised position by spring 30 and engages the lug I6 on slidable member I3, the space above piston 29 being exhausted to atmosphere through pipe 31. If it is now desired to lower the load ing wheels into engagement with the ground,

fluid under pressure is introduced through pipe 31 to the space in cylinder 28 above the piston 29, thereby forcing the piston 29, piston rod 3|, and lever 32 downwardly, rotating shaft 33 in a counter-clockwise direction and thereby moving the latch member 34 in a counterclockwise direction and out of engagement with the lug I6. In the initial stage of this operation fluid under pressure will not flow from pipe 31 to pipe 36 due to the interposition of ball-check valve 38 between the two pipes. However, as the piston 29 moves downwardly, the. passage 35 will be uncovered and fluid under pressure will flow from pipe 31 to pipe 36 through cylinder 28 and through the uncovered passage 35, and such fluid under pressure willflow through pipe 36 to the upper end of cylinder I, thereby forcing piston'8 downwardly, which, through pin 6, lever 5 and shaft 4, rotates the leg 3 and attached wheel 2 in a clockwise direction into engagement with the ground. As the wheel 2 moves downwardly, it will be apparent that the supporting rod I2 will move therewith, thereby causing member I3 to slide in a forward direction on the frame member I4, until at the limit of the downward movement of the wheel 2, the lug I5 on member I3 will abut the latch member 23. It will be apparent that, due to the configuration of the lug I5 and the latch member 23, the leftward movement of the lug member against the latch member will cause said latch member to move in-a clockwise direction against the force of spring I9, and that when the lug I5 is engaged behind the hook on latch member 23, the spring I9 will hold the parts in latched position and the wheels in engagement with the ground. In the above operation, it will be understood that the pipe 25 communicates with the atmosphere.

With the wheels in ground-engaging. position, if it is desired to raise the same, pipe 31 is connected to the atmosphere and fluid under pressure is introduced through pipe 25 to the space in cylinder I1 above the piston I8, thereby forcmg such piston downwardly against the force of spring I9 and moving the latch member 23 out of engagement with lug I5. Due to the disposition of ball-check valve 21, no fluid under pressure will flow from pipe 25 to pipe 24 until the downward movement of piston I 8 has uncovered port 26, at which time fluid under pressure will flow from pipe 25 through cylinder l'L'passage 26, and pipe 24 to the lower end of cylinder 1, thereby raising. the piston 8, and, through the pin 6 and lever 5, rotate shaft 4 in a counterclockwise direction, thereby raising the leg 3 and attached wheel 2. It will be apparent that as the wheel 2 is raised out of engagement with the ground, the supporting rod I2 will be moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 and,'when the wheel 2 has arrived at a predetermined position,-

the lug I6 on member I3 will abut .the latch member 34, and due to the configuration of such abutting members, the continued movement of the member I3 and lug I6 will cause the latch member to move in a counterclockwise direction against the force of spring 30. When the member I3 has moved sufllciently far, the tension of spring 30 will raise the latch member 34 into engaging position behind the lug I6, thereby holding the leg member 3 and wheel 2 in raised position.

Referring now to Fig. 2 in which is disclosed a modified form of the invention, the same includes in combination with the frame 58 of a trailer vehicle, a wheel 5| which is rotatably mounted at the lower extremity of leg member 52, the same being attached to a rotatable shaft 53 which is mounted in horizontal bearings on the lower side of the frame member 50. Also attached to shaft 52 for rotation therewith is a toothed quadrant member 54, the teeth on the arcuate face thereof engaging cooperating teeth on a rack bar 55 which is formed as a prolongation of a piston rod 56, the same being attached to and movable with a piston 51. Piston 51 is slidably received in a double-ended cylinder -58 which is provided at each end with a port, 59 and 68 respectively. Pivotally attached at its lower end member 63, and which has formed on the lower 7 face thereof the lugs 64, 65 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. At spaced points along members 12, 13, the same being attached at'their outer ends to the lower extremities of piston rods 14, 15. Said piston rods are attached at their upper ends to the pistons 18, 11, slidably received in cylinders 18,19 and normally maintained in their uppermost positions therein by springs 88, 8|. The cylinders may, if desired, be mounted on upwardly-extending portions of brackets- Means are provided for operating the above described parts, such means comprising a pipe 82, the same being'adapted to be connected at one end, through valve means, to a source of fluid under pressure (not shown) and connected at its other end to the upper end of cylinder 18, through a. T-joint. 83. Connected to pipe 82 through one arm of the T- joint 83 is a pipe 84, the other end of which is connected to the upper end of cylinder 58 through port 59. Port 59 is provided with a restricted portion 85, the same' restricting the how of fluid under pressure into cylinder 58 from pipe 84 for apurpose to be described hereinafter. Connected to the upper end of cylinder 18 through a T-joint 88 is a pipe 81, the same being adapted to be connected at its other end, through valve means, toa source of fluid under pressure (not shown). A pipe 88 is connected at one end to-pipe 81 through one arm of the T-joint 88 and at its other end to the lower end of cylinder 58 through port 68, such connection to the cylinder 58 including a restricted portion 89.

In the operation of the above described structure, if it is desired to raise the wheels out of 'engagement with'the ground fluid under pressure is admitted to pipe 81 and through the same into cylinder 58 through pipe 88, restriction 89 and port 88, and into cylinder 18 above piston 18, thereby forcing the said piston downwardly against the force of spring 88, and rotating the lever 12, shaft 88 and latch member 18 in. a

clockwise direction, whereby the latch member 18 will release the lug 84. Due tothe interposition of the restricted portion 89, the building up of pressure in cylinder 58 below piston 51 will be slower than the building up of pressure in cylinder 18 and the operation of piston 51 will therefore lag behind that of piston 18, whereby the complete release of the slidable member 82 by latch member 18 will be effected before movement .of member 82 is initiated. When the pressure in cylinder 58 below piston 51 has built up to a suiiicient point, piston 51, with the attached shaft 53, and leg 52 will be rotated in a counterclockwise" direction, therebyraising the wheel 5| out of engagement with the ground. When the wheel hasreached a predetermined height above the ground, the lug 85 will abut the latch member v 1|, and, due to the configuration of these two abutting elements, the latch member will be moved in acounterclockwise direction, whereby continued movement of member 82 will cause lug 85 to be engaged behind the hook on latch member 1|, the parts being held in engaged position by spring 8|. It will be understood that during the above operation, pipe 82 is connected with the atmosphere.

If it is now desired to lower the wheels 5| into engagement with the ground, pipe 81 is connectof slidable member 82 to the left. .Fluid under pressure in pipe 82 also flows to cylinder 58 above piston 51 through T-joint 83, pipe, restricted passage 85 and passage 59. Due to the interposition of the restriction 85, however, the building up of pressure above'piston 51'will lag behind the building up oi. pressure above piston 11 and the wheel lowering operation will not be initiated by piston 51 until the, lug 64 has been completely freed by latch member 1|. When the pressure above piston 51 reaches a sufflcient point, the said piston, together with the attached rack will be forced downwardly thereby, due to the cooperation of the teeth on the rack member and those on the quadrant 54, rotating the latter, shaft 53 and leg 52 in a clockwise direction and lowering the wheels 5| into engagement with the ground, and moving the slidable member 82 to the left as vviewed in Fig. 2. As the member 82- reaches the end of its movement, the lug 84 will abut the latch member 18 and, due to the configuration of these two cooperating members, the latch device will be moved in a clockwise direction against the tension of spring 88. Further movement of member 62 will cause lug 84 to engage behind the hook on latch member 18, the parts being heldgin such position by spring 88, whereby the wheels 5| are maintained in their lowered position.

Another form which the invention may take is disclosed in Fig. 3, wherein it will be seen that the same has been illustrated as mounted on a trailer'vehiclel88, and comprises a supporting leg |8|, which; is pivotally attached to the lower side of the trailer vehicle as at I82 and which is provided,at its lower extremity, with the wheel I83, it being understood that a similar construction at the other side of the vehicle is operated by the same mechanism which operates the leg and wheel structure disclosed. Pivotally connect ed at its lower end to the leg I8| adjacent the axis of the wheel I83, is a supporting rod I84, the same being pivotally connected at its upper end to a locking member I85 which is mounted on the longitudinal frame member I88 for sliding movement therealong', and which is provided at each end thereof with lugs or offset portions I81, I88. It will be apparent that as the wheels I83 are moved toward and from the ground, the member I85 will be moved longitudinally along the frame member.

" Means are provided either raised or lowered position, such means comprising latching means for holding the slidable member I85 in position at either end of its longitudinal travel. Such last named means comprise double-ended lever members I88, 8, the

same being pivotally mounted between their ends on the trailer vehicle adjacent the opposite limits for locking the wheels in.

and comprising also the outwardly-extending arms H1, 8, against which bear the lower ends of springs III, II2, for normally urging the lever members to the position shown. Connected respectively to the lever arms II5, I I6, between the pivotal points of thelever membersand the hook portions, are the lower ends of piston rods II9, I20, the same. being attached at their upper ends to the pistons I2 I, I22, which are slidably mounted in cylinders I23, I24. Cylinders I23, I24 are provided with atmospheric openings I25, I26 below the pistons and, above the piston I2I, cylinder I23 is connected by pipe I21 to a valve device I28, while above the piston I22, cylinder I24 is connected by pipes I29 and I 3I to the valve device I28.

Means are provided for raising and lowering the wheels I03, such means comprising a bellcrank lever I32, the same being pivoted to the trailer frame adjacent the pivot I02, as at I33, and having a downwardly and rearwardly-extending arm I34, the-lower end of which is connected, as by rod I35, to the supporting leg IN. The said lever is also provided with a rearwardly and upwardly-extending arm I36. A pair of oppositely-disposed diaphragm chambers I30, I31 are mounted on the trailerframe, the same being provided with the diaphragms I38, I39, to which are respectively connected the piston rods I40, I. The said piston rods are aligned and at their outer ends, are attached to each other and to the upper end of the arm I36 of the bell-crank lever I32. The outer side of diaphragm chamber I30 is connected to the valve device I28 through pipe I42, restricted passage I43, pipe I29 and pipe I3I. The outer side of, diaphragm chamber I31 is connected to valve device I28 through pipe I44, restricted passage I45, and pipe I21.

Means are provided for actuating the above described structure, such means comprising a reservoir I46, in which fluid under pressure, such as compressed air, may be stored, said reservoir being connected by pipe I41 to the valve device I28. The valve device I28, as shown, comprises a valve easing- I48 and a rotatable, cylindrical valve member I49, the same being provided with a passage I50 which extends peripherally over more than half the circumference of the valve member, and being also provided with a second passage I5I which is disposed on the opposite side of the circumference of the valve member from the passage I50... The valve member is so disposed in relation to the ports in the casingthat passage I5I is constantly connected to the pipe I 41 leading to the reservoir I46 while the valve member may be rotated to also connect the said passage 'to either pipe I21 or pipe 'I3I. The passage I50 is constantly connected to atmosphere through a pipe I52, and the said rotation of the valve member is operative to connect said passage either to pipe I21 or pipe I3I. A handle I53 may be provided for rotating the valve member I49. In the operation of the above described device, fluid under pressure from reservoir I48 is constantly supplied to passage I5I in valve member I49 through pipe I 41, and in the position of parts as disclosed in F g. 3, such fluid under pressure will flow from passage I5I through pipe I21 to cylin-- der I23 above piston I2 I, thereby forcing the latter and rod II9 downwardly to rotate lever I09 in a clockwise direction against the force of spring III and to disengage the hook portion II3 from the lug I01, whereby the slidable member is freed for movement along the trailer frame member. Fluid under pressure also flows from pipe I21 to diaphragm chamber I31 through restricted passage I45 and pipe "I44, but, due to the provision of the said restricted passage, the building up of pressure will be slower in the said diaphragm chamber than in cylinder I23 and the action of the diaphragm I39 will therefore be retarded until the lug I01 has beendisengaged as de scribed above. When suificient pressure has been vbuilt up in diaphragm chamber I31, the diaphragm I39 and attached piston rod I 4| will be moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 3, thereby rotating bell-crank lever I32 in a counterclockwise direction about pivot I33, and through the arm I34 and rod I35, raising the leg IM and wheels I03 until the latter are out of engagement with the ground. As the wheels I 03 move upwardly and rearwardly the rod I04 will cause the member I05 to slide rearwardly on the trailer frame member until the lug I08 abuts the hook portion II4 of lever IIO, when due to the configuration of the abutting parts, the said layer will be forced in a counterclockwise direction against the force of spring II2 thereby lowering the hook portion I I4 and permitting further movement of member H0 until the lug I08 has moved sufiieiently far to engage behind the hook member I I4. The parts will then be maintained in this position by tension of spring II2. It will be noted that when the valve member I49 is in the proper position for effecting the raising of the wheels, the diaphragm chamber I30 is connected to atmosphere through pipe I42,re'stricted passage I43, pipes I29 and I3I, passage I50 and atmospheric pipe I52.

If it is now. desired to lower the wheels into engagement with the ground, the handle I53 may be moved to rotate the valve member 149 to such a position that pipe I3I is connected to pipe I41 and reservoir I 46-'through va1ve passage I5I,'such valve movement also connecting pipe I21, cylinder I23 and diaphragm chamber I31 to atmosphere through valve passage I50 and atmospheric pipe I52. I46 will now flow to cylinder I24 through pipe I41, passage I5I and pipes I3l and I29 thereby forcing piston I22 and piston rod 20 downwardly and moving lever I I0 in a counterclockwise direction, such movement moving hook portion I I4 out of engagement with lug I08 whereby member I05 is freed for sliding movement along the trailer frame member. Fluid under pressure from reservoir I46 will also flow to diaphragm chamber I30 through pipe I41, valve passage I5I, pipes I31, and I29, restricted passage I43 and pipe I42, but due to the interposition of the restricted passage I43 the building'up of pressure 'will be slower in the said diaphragm chamber than in cylinder I 24, whereby the movement of diaphragm I38 will not be initiated until the hook portion II4 has been moved out of engagement with lug I08. When sufficient pressure has been developed in diaphragm chamber I30, the diaphragm I38 and attached piston rod I40 will be moved to the right as viewed inFig. 3 and the bell-crank I32 will therefore be rotated in a clockwise direction about pivot I33, and such movement will be transmitted through arm I34 and rod I35 to the supporting leg IOI, thereby lowering. the same and the attached wheels I03 into engagement with the ground. When the wheels I03 have reached a.

point near the end of their downward movement, the lug I01 will abut the hook portion I I3 of lever I09 and, due to the configuration of the cooperating parts, the lever I09 will be moved in a clockwise direction about its pivot, thereby permitting further movement of member I06 until the lug Fluid under pressure from reservoir vided, at opposite ends thereof with the In the structure disclosed in Fig. '7, a casing member I54 is provided, the same having a cylindrical chamber I55 formed therein in which is slidably mounted a piston I56, the same having a piston rod I51 extending downwardly from the lower side thereof, the lower end of which is adapted to be connected to either of the levers I09, IIO disclosed in Fig. 3. The cylinder I55 may be cormnected, above the piston I56, to the reservoir-I46 through the pipe IBI and the valve device I28,

and such cylinder and piston assembly corresponds to and may perform the functions of either of the lever-operating cylinder and piston assemblies disclosed in Fig. 3, A pipe I58 is connected to the cylinder I55 adjacent the bottom thereof through a passage I59 and the latter is connected to the cylinder above the piston through a passage IISII which includes a ball-check valve I62, the same permitting flow of fluid under pressure from pipe I58 and passage I59 to the upper portion of the cylinder but not in the opposite direction. The pipe I58 corresponds toeither of the pipes I29 or I44 disclosed in Fig. 3 and conheats the cylinder I55 to the diaphragm chamber.

In the operation of the structure disclosed in Fig. 7, fluid under pressure may be admitted into the upper portion of cylinder I55 through pipe ItI thereby forcing piston I56 and piston rod WI downwardly and moving the attached lever memher and hook portion thereon out of engagement with the cooperating lug on the slidable member I05. Due to the interposition of ball-check valve I62 fluid under pressure will not flow to pipe I58 and passage I59 through passage I62, but when the piston I56 reaches the limit of its downward movement the port I59 will be uncov-.

ered by piston I56 and fluid under pressure from reservoir I46 will flow to the diaphragm chamber through pipe IBI, cylinder I55, passage I59 and pipe I58. It will thus be seen that the operation of the diaphragm chamber will not be initiated until after the hook portion of the lever member has released-the lug on the slidable member I55 to permit sliding movement of said member. Referring now to Fig. 4 in which there is disclosed a. still further form which the invention may take, it will be seen that the same is disclosed in combination with the frame 20d of a trailer vehicle and the present embodiment of the invention comprises a supporting leg 2% which may be pivoted, as at 202, to the under side of the trailer frame and which carries, at its lower extremity, the wheel 203, it being understood that a similar construction is provided on the opposite side of the trailer vehicle and that both leg and wheel structures are adapted to be operated-by the mechanism to be described here-' inafter. Pivotally connected at its lower end to the supporting leg 20I adjacent the axis of the wheel 203, is a rod member 204, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to a member 205. which is adapted to slide longitudinally alongthetrailer frame, such motion being caused by the raising and lowering of the supporting leg and wheel structure. Slidable member 205. is-projoined ends of two oppositely-extending piston rods 2I l, 2I2,'the piston rod 2' being connected at its other end to the diaphragm 2I3 of a diaphragm chamber 2I4, and the other end of piston rod 2 I2 being connected to the diaphragm'2 I 5 of a diaphragm chamber 2I6.

' Means are provided for maintaining the wheels in either their raised or lowered position, and such means comprise a pair of double-ended levers 2 I l, 2I8, the same being pivoted adjacent their midpoints on the trailer frame and comprising arms M9, 220, each of which is formed with a hooker latch portion 22 I, 222, said arms being constantly mged to their uppermost positions by springs 223, 224 which bear at their one end against the trailer frame and at their other end against .the arms 225, 226 of the said levers. Cpnnected at their lower extremities to each of the levers 2I1, 2I8, at points intermediate the pivots thereof and the hook portions, are piston rods 248, 250, the same extending upwardly and being attached at their upper ends to pistons 229, 230. Piston 229 is slidably disposed in a cylindrical chamber 23I formed by a casing 232, and is normally main tained in its uppermost position by the tension of a spring 233, one end of which bears on the lower face of piston 229 and the other end of which bears on the casing 232. The upper face of piston 229 has formed thereon a concentricallydisposed pin valve 234 which is adapted when the piston is in its uppermost position. to seat on and close a port 235 in the upper end .of chamber 23 I The lower end of the said chamber is open to atmosphere through a port 23$. The upper end of the casing 282 has formed therein apassage 231] which is in open communication with the chamber 23I, and the lower portion of the casing 232 is provided with a passage 238 which is in open communication with the chamber 23I just below the uppermost position of the piston 229.

Passages 2371 and 238 are connected by a restricted opening 239. v

Piston 230 is slidably disposed in a cylindrical chamber 240 formed in a casing 2, the bottom of said chamber being open to atmosphere through a port 242 and the upper part of said chamber having connected thereto one end. of a pipe 2423. 1

Means are provided for operating the above described structure, such means comprising the pipe 243 which, as stated hereinbefore, is connected at one end to chamber 240 and at its other end through suitable valve mechanism (not' shown) to a source of fluid under pressure. Diaphragm chamber 2 is connected to pipe 243 through pipe 244 and restricted passage 245.

Chamber 23I in casing 232 is connectedthrough port 235 and a .pipe 246, to the standard brake application pipe 241 of the trailer vehicle, it being understood that fluid under pressure is transmitted through pipes 241 and,246 only when the trailer braking device 248 is to be operated to apply the trailer brakes. Diaphragm chamber 2l6 is connected to chamber 23! below the piston .229 through port 238 and pipe 249.

In the operation of the above described structure, the wheels may normally be in the position disclosed, i. e., in contact with the ground. If it is now desired to raise the wheels out of engagement with the ground,the tractor brake valve is operated by the driver to cause a trailer brake application by operating brake device 2485 In order to effect such operation, fluid under pressure will flow through pipe 241 to ,brake operator 248 and said fluid under pressure will also flow through pipe 246 to chamber 23 l. Due to the fact that lug 221 is engaged with hook 22| on lever 2 l I,

the arm 2 l9 of said lever and the connected piston 229 are not in their uppermost position but are depressed sufficiently to unseat the pin valve 234 from the port 235, thereby allowing fluid under pressure to flow from pipe 246 to chamber 23'l fully depressing piston 229 and releasing hook member 22! from lug 221'to thereby permit sliding movement of member 205. Fluid 'under pressure from pipe 246 will also flow through'passage 231, restricted passage 239, passage 238, and pipe 249 to diaphragm chamber 2l6 but due to the interposition of restricted passage 239 the build-up of pressure in .diaphragm chamber 2 I 6 will be slow until the'downward movementof piston 229 uncovers passage 238 at which time diaphragm chamber will be open to pipe 246 through chamber 23 l', passage 238 and pipe 249, thereby causing a subsequent rapid build-up of pressure in the diaphragmchamber. When such pressure has reached a sufficient value, the diaphragm 2 l5 and attached piston rod 2l2 will be moved-to the left and bell-crank lever 206 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction about pivot 201, and the movement of arm 208 thereof will, be transmitted through rod 2l0 to supporting leg 20!, thereby raising the same together with the wheels 203. As the leg 20l and wheels 203 move upwardly and rearwardly, such movement will be transmitted through rod 204 to slidable member 205 which will move rearwardly along the trailer frame until the lug 228 abuts the hook portion 222 of lever 2| 8. When this occurs, and .due to the configuration of the two coacting parts, the lever 2l8 will be moved in a counterclockwise direction against the force of spring 224, thereby permitting further rearward movement of member 205 until lug 228 is engagedbehind the hookportion 222.

When such engagement takes place, the tension of spring 224 will maintain the parts in such position thereby holding the leg 20l and wheels 203 in raised position. At this time the braking pressure in pipe 241 may be released, the parts remaining in wheel-raised position in the manner described.

If it is now desired to lower the wheels into engagement with the ground, fluid under pressure from a suitable source may be introduced into pipe 243 from whence it will flow directly to chamber 240 in casing 2, thereby forcing piston 230, piston rod 228 and arm 220 of lever.2l8 downwardly, whereby the hook portion 222 will be moved out of en agement with lug 228 and slidable member 205 will be released for movement along the trailer frame. Fluid pressure from pipe 243 will also flow to diaphragm chamber 2 through pipe 244 and restricted'passage 245 but, due to the interposition of the said restricted passage, the build-up of pressure in the diaphragm chamber will be retarded, and movenot take place until after the described operation rod 2| 0 to the supporting leg 20l, thereby moving the same in a clockwise direction about the pivot 202 and moving the wheels 203 into engagement with the ground. Such movement of the supporting leg 20| will be transmitted through rod 204 to slidable member 205 which will move along the trailer frame to the left as viewed in Fig. 4, until the lug 221 abuts the hook portion 22! of lever 2l1. When such abutment occurs, and due to the configuration of the coacting parts, the lever 2" will be moved in a clockwise direction about its pivot, thereby lowering the hook portion and permitting-further movement of slidable member 205 until the lug 221 is engaged behind the hook portion 22 I. The wheels will now be in their lowered position and will be held in such position by the cooperation of hook portion 22I and lug 221, said hook portion being held in raised position by the tension of spring 223. I The pressure in pipe 243 may now be reduced to atmospheric.

Still another form which the invention may take is disclosed in Fig. 5, wherein it will be seen that this modification is illustrated in combine tion with the frame 250 of a trailer vehicle, and comprises a supporting leg 25l pivoted to the lower side of theframe as at 252 and having mounted at the lower end thereof the trailer loading wheels 253. Formed integrally with the leg 25| and on the opposite side of the pivot 252 therefromis disposed a locking member 26l for a purpose to be described hereinafter, and it will be noted that said locking member is disposed at a slight angle to the supporting leg. Pivotally connected at its lower end to the axle casing of the wheel 253 is a rod 254, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to the lower side of slidsage between chambers 28! and 282 and the valve 285 being adapted to seat in a bored passage between chambers 282 and 283. Chamber 28| is constantly connected to atmosphere through a port 288. A stem 286 connects the said valve members and extends through the outer wall of chamber 28| for engagement by the slidable member 255; A spring 281 which bears against pin 2809 on stem 286 normally maintains the valve 284 seated and the valve 285 unseated for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

Means are provided for raising the loading wheels 253 out of engagement with the ground, such means comprising a cylinder 251 mounted on the trailer frame and having a diaphragm 258 therein; Connected to the diaphragm and extending vertically downward therefrom is a pistonro'd 259, the same being connected at its lower extremityto the end of a lever 260 whi h I cylinders passing through said pivot.

cylinders are connected by a small passage 264 thesupporting leg 25! and joins the same adjacent the pivot 252 of said supporting leg. It will be apparent that depression of the diaphragm 258 and piston rod 259 will cause lever 260, support:

.ing leg 251 and locking member 26l to move in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 252.

Means are provided forlocking the supporting leg and attached parts in either raised or lowered position, such means comprising a pair of aligned cylinders 262, 263, attached to the trailer frame above the pivot 252. the longitudinal axes of said The two through which passes a connecting rod 265, the same having attached thereto the piston devices 266, 261 which are slidably disposed in the cylinders 262 and 263 respectively. 'A spring 268 bearing at one end against the upper end of cylinder 263 and at its. other end against the piston 261, normally maintains both pistons at the bottoms of their respective cylinders. Depending from the lower side of piston 261 and extending through the lower end of cylinder 263 is a piston rod 293, the same carrying at its lower end a cylindrical member 269 the lower part of which is formed as an inverted pyra which lower part is adapted to cooperate with the locking member 26!, and is so disposed with relation. thereto, that when the said. portion 219 is in itslower or operative position one of the faces thereof will abut the locking member and thereby prevent movement of the leg 25l and attached parts about the pivot 252,

Means are provided for operating the above described structure, such means comprising a fluid pressure reservoir 2", the same being connectedby a pipe 212 to a valve device'213 which comprises a casing 214 having a rotatable valve 215 mounted therein, a handle 216 being provided for rotating the valve. Connected at one end through the valve casing 214 is a pipe 211, the other end of which is connected to the interior 3 of cylinder 262 below piston 263. Also connected to the interior of valve casing 214 is a pipe 218,

r the same being connected at its other end to chamber 283 of valve casing 280. -An arcuate port 298 is formed in the rotatable valve member 215 and such valve member may be rotated to connect either of pipes 211 or 218 to the reservoir 21! or to atmosphere through a port 295.

Communicating at one end with the interior of cylinder 263 and connected thereto just below the uppermost position of piston 261 is a pipe 29l, the other end of which is connected to diaphragm chamber 251 on the side thereof opposite from the piston rod 259. Also communicating with cylinder 263, but at the bottom thereof, is a pipe 292, the other end of which is connected to the chamber 282 of valve casing 289. Cylinder 263 is preferably provided with a small atmospheric vent or choke 263 for a purpose which will appear more fully hereinafter.

In the operation of the above described structure, the loading wheels are normally lowered into engagement with the ground, as illustrated,

the'valve 215 being at this time in inoperative position and therefore not affording a connection through port 299 from the reservoir to either pipe 211 or pipe 218. the spring 268 holdsthe cylindrical member 269 in lowermost position and the portion 219 thereof is in abutting relation with the left face of the locking member'26l. It will thus be apparent that the leg 25l is not free to rotate about id or cone 218 and In this position of the parts.

its pivotal connection, and that in order to so rotate the said leg it is necessary to move the abutting portion 219 out of engagement with the locking member 26I. If it is now desired to raise with the locking member 26L As the piston 281 approaches the upper limit of its movement, the connection of pipe 29I to cylinder 263 will be uncovered, thereby connecting the diaphragm chamber 251 to the source of fluid pressure through pipe 29I and the lower part of cylinder 263. Fluid pressure in diaphragm chamber 251 will cause diaphragm 258 and piston rod 259 to be moved downwardly, thereby rotating the lever arm 260, locking member 26| and supporting leg 25l in a counterclockwise direction and moving the loading wheels 253 out of engagement with the ground. The upward movement of wheels 253 will be. transmitted. through rod 254 to slidable member 255 which will then move rearwardly along the frame member 259. As the wheels approach the limit of their upward movement, the slidable member 255 will abut the valve rod 2'86,and will move the same, together with the attached valves 284, 285 to the right, thereby unseating valve 284 and seating'valve 285. When valve 285 seats communication between chambers 282 and 283 is cut off and the flow of fluid under pressure from reservoir 21l to cylinder 263 is stopped and when valve 284 is unseated, as described, communication is established be-' tween chambers 28! and 282, thereby venting the lower part of cylinder 263 to atmosphere through pipe 292, chamber 282, past opened valve 284 chamber 28| and exhaust port 288. Due to the venting of the lower part of cylinder 263, the tension of spring 268 will force pistons 266 and 261 downwardly thereby forcing portion 216 into engagement with locking member 26! which is 'now in the wheel-raised position, as disclosed in broken lines in Fig. 5'. It will be apparent that under pressure will flow from reservoir 2 to cylinder 262 through pipe 212, port 290, and pipe 211, thereby raising piston 266, piston 261 and-cylindrical member 269 against the force of spring 268 and moving the abutting portion 210 out of locking engagement with looking member 26L With the locking members released, as described, the wheels 253 are lowered into engagement with the ground, the weight of the same and attached parts causing them to be so lowered. As the wheels move downwardly, slidable member 255 will move. forwardly on frame member 250, therebymeleasing the valve stem 286 and valve 285 to its normal position establishing communication between chambers 282 and 283. When the wheels 253 are in full contact with the ground, valve 215 may be rotated to connect the interior of cylinder 262 and pipe 211 to atmosphere through port 290 and atmospheric port 295, thereby allowing spring 268 to move the pistons 266, 261 and the locking member 269 to their lowermost; position, thereby locking the wheels in lowered or ground-engaging position.

A still further form which the invention may take is disclosed in Fig. 6, in which figure the said invention is illustrated in combination with the frame 300 of a trailer vehicle, and comprises the trailer loading wheels 30 I, the same being mountend of which is pivotally connected to the under side of a locking member 305 which is mounted on the trailer frame for sliding movement longitudinally thereof. tegrally formed with, the upper side of the slidable member 305 is a projection 306, the upper portion of which is rigidly attached to the piston rod 311'! -of a piston device 308.

\ Means are provided for locking the wheels in "either raised or lowered position, such means comprising latch members 309, 310, the same being pivoted at one end to the trailer frame, and the other ends thereof being formed with upwardly-extending latch portions 3| 1, 312 which are adapted to cooperate with the slots 313, 314

formed in the lower side of slidable member 305. Connected to the free ends of the latch members 309, 310 are the lower ends of upwardly-extending piston rods 315, 316, the upper ends of which are attached to the piston devices 311, 318 slidably disposed in cylinders 319, 320. Springs 321, 322 are disposed in the said cylinders below the piston devices therein and said springs constantly urge ,the pistons, piston rods and latch members to their uppermost position.

Means are provided for operating the above described structure and such means comprise a fluid pressure reservoir 323, the'same being connected bya pipe 325 to a port in the casing 324 of a valve device. A second pipe 332 is connected at one end to a port in the valve casing and at its other end to the upper end of cylinder 320. A third pipe 331' is connected at one end to the upper end of cylinder 319 and at its other end to a port in the said valve casing. An atmospheric port 330 is also provided in the casing. Disposed within the casing 324 is a rotatable valve member 326, the same being provided with two ports 321, 328 and, as illustrated, such ports may,-in one position, connect cylinder 320 to the reservoir 323 through pipe 332, port 321 and pipe 325, and at the same time connect cylinder 319 to atmosphere through pipe 331, port 328 and atmospheric port 330. It will be obvious that on proper rotation of Rigidly attached to, or in-r the valve member 326, the ports 321, 328 will also be so disposed as to connect cylinder 320 to atmosphere and cylinder 319 to reservoir 323. Connected to cylinder 320 just above the lowest position of piston 31'! is one end of a pipe 329 the other end of which is connected to the right-hand end of cylinder 309. The other end of cylinder 309 is connected by a pipe 333 to cylinder 319 just above the lowest position of piston 311. A handle 334 may be provided for operating the valve 326.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the loading wheels are in engagement with the ground and spring 321 maintains latch member 311 in looking engagement with slidable member 305. If it is now desired to raise the loading wheels out of contact with the ground, the valve member 326 may be rotated to connect cylinder 319 to reservoir 323 through pipe 331, port 321 and pipe 325, at the same time connecting cylinder 320 to atmosphere through pipe 332, port 328 and port- 330. Fluid under pressure in cylinder 319 will force piston 311, piston rod 315 and latch member 309 downwardly against the force of spring 321, thereby moving the latch end 31 1 out of engagement with the slot 313, and releasing member 305 for sliding movement. As piston 31! moves downwardly, the pipe 333 will be uncovered and fluid under pressure will flow therethrough to the left end of cylinder 309, thereby moving piston 308, piston rod 301 and member 305 to the right, whereby the rod 304 will exert such a pull on supporting mg 302 to raise the wheels 301 out of engagement with the ground. As the wheels reach a predetermined height abovethe ground, the end of member 305 will abut the end of pivoted latch member 310 and, due to the configuration of the abutting parts, the latch member will be moved in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot, whereby the member 305 will be permitted a further movement to the right until the projection 312 on latch member 310 engages in the slot 314 in member 305, in which engaged position the parts will be held by spring 322.

If it is now desired to lower the wheels into engagement with the ground, the valve 326 may be operated to connect the cylinder 320 to the reservoir 323 through pipe 332, port 321 and pipe 325, such valve operation also connecting cylinder 319 to atmosphere through pipe 331 port 328 and port 330. Fluid pressure in cylinder 320 will force piston 318, piston rod 316 and latch member 310 downwardly, thereby moving the projection 3 I 2 on said latch member out of engagement with the slot 314, whereby the member 305 is released for sliding movement. As piston 318 moves downwardly, the pipe 329 will be uncovered and fluid under pressure will flow therethrough to the will be moved in a clockwise direction thereby permitting further movement of member 305 until the projection 311 engages in the slot 313, the

. parts being held in this position by the tension of spring 321.

While several modifications of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that further modifications, as well as changes in details of construction and operation, may be made without departing'in any way from the spirit of the invention. More'- over, though the invention has been described in connection with loading wheels for trailer vehicles, it is to be understood that the same is not so limited inits application but may be employed for raising or retracting the wheels or supports of any vehicle, such as for example an aeroplane, Reference will therefore be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention. What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising wheels mounted thereon, fluid-pressure operated means for raising or lowering said wheels, means including resilient means for maintaining said wheels in one position, and separate fluid-pressure operated means for releasing said last named means.

2. A vehicle comprising wheels mounted thereon, fluid-pressure operated means for raising said wheels, fluid-pressure operated means for lowering said wheels, resiliently operated means for maintaining said wheels in one position, and separate fluid-pressure operated means for releasing said last named means.

3. A vehicle comprising wheels pivotally mounted thereon, means for raising or lowering said wheels, means for maintaining said wheels in raised position, means for maintaining said wheels in lowered position, fluid-pressure operated means for releasing said second named means, fluid-pressure operated means for releas-' ing said third named means, and means whereby fluid pressure is introduced into said raising or lowering means subsequent to the operation of either of said maintaining means.

4. A vehicle comprising wheels pivoted thereon, a single means for raising or lowering said wheels, means for maintaining said wheels in raised position, means for maintaining said wheels in lowered position, fluid-pressure means for releasing said second named means, fluidpressure means for releasing said third named means, and means connecting said two fluidpressure means to said single means through restricted passages.

5. A vehicle comprising wheels mounted thereon, afluid-pressure operated means for raising said wheels, a second fluid-pressure operated means for lowering said wheels, means for maintaining said wheels in raised position, and means for maintaining said wheels in lowered position.

6. A vehicle comprising wheels mounted thereon, means for raising andlowering said wheels, latch meansmounted on said vehicle for maintaining said wheels in one position, fluid-pressure operated means for operating said latch means in one direction, and separate means for operating said latch means in another direction.

7. A vehicle comprising wheels mounted thereon, means for moving said wheels relatively to said vehicle, means for maintaining said wheels in one position, and means operated by movement of said wheels for controlling the operation of said wheel-moving means and said maintaining means.

8. A vehicle comprising wheels mounted thereon, means for moving said wheels relatively to said vehicle, and means operated by movement of said wheels relatively to said vehicle for controlling the operation of said wheel-moving means. j

9. A vehicle comprising wheels mounted thereon, means for moving said wheels, means for maintaining said wheels in one direction, and means operated by movement of said wheels for controlling the operation of said maintaining means.

10. A vehicle having loading wheels pivoted thereon, a fluid motor for-raising and lowering said wheels, means for maintaining said wheels in raised position, and fluid pressure-operated means to release said maintaining means and to thereafter release fluid pressure to said motor.

11. In a trailer vehicle, a temporary leg support movable to supporting and non-supporting positions, latch means for locking the support in one of said positions, fluid pressure-operated means for releasing said latch means, and separate fluid pressure-operated means for positively moving said support from said positions.

12. In a trailer vehicle, a temporary leg support movable to supporting and non-supporting positions, latch means for locking the support in one of said positions, a fluid motor and means operated thereby for releasing said latch means, a separate fluidmotor for positively moving said support from one of said positions, and means controlled by said first motor for energizing said separate motor.

- 13. A vehicle having a loading wheel, a fluid motor for raising and lowering said wheel, means for latching said wheel in raised position, and means for sequentially releasing said latching means and for thereafter energizing said motor.

14. A vehicle having a loading wheel, a fluid motor for raising and lowering said wheel, means for latching said wheel in raised position, and

STEPHEN JOHNSON, JR. ROGER H. CASLER. 

